Radial truck.



-No. 788,976. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905. R. WELLS.

RADIAL TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

WITNESSES No 788,976. PATENTED MAYZ, 1905. R. WELLS.

RADIAL TRUCK.

APPLIUATION FILEI) HA3. 2, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG. 4-.

PATENTED MAY'Z, 1905.

R. WELLS. RADIAL TRUGK.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 2, 1905.

3BHEETB-SHEET 3- INVENTOR FIGJD. FIG. 9,

wrrnssses Patented May 2, 1905.

PATENT Erica.

REUBEN WELLS, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

RADIAL. TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,976, dated May 2, 1905. Application filed March 2, 1905. Serial No. 248,052.

To 67/, whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN WELLS, of Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful 1m provement in Radial Trucks, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to locomotive-engine trucks of the general class or type known as radial trucks, in which lateral motion or radial movement of a bearing-axle relatively to the main frame is provided for in order to facilitate the passage of the locomotive into, through, and from curved portions of the track and reduce the strains incident to such traverse.

The object of my-invention is to provide a radial truck which shall embody the advantages of compactness, simplicity, durability, and the presentation of effective and reliable means by which it is automatically returned to its normal central position after passing from a curve to a tangent of the track without the employment of centering-springs, inclines, or devices of similar character.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a radial trailing truck for locomotive-engines, illustrating an application of my invention, the trailing wheel nearer the observer being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2, a plan or top View of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse central section; Fig. 4:, a front view in elevation with the saddle on the righthand in section; Fig. 5, a horizontal transverse section with the axle and wheels removed; Fig. 6, a front View, on an enlarged scale, of one of the saddles detached; Figs. 7 and 8, side and end views, respectively, of one of the upper hanger-pins; Figs. 9 and 10, similar views, respectively, of one of the lower hanger-pins; Figs. 11 and 12, front and side views, respectively, of one of the hangers; Fig. 13, a longitudinal central section through one of the journal-bearing shoes, and Fig. 14 a plan or top view of the same.

My invention is herein shown as applied in a trailing truck employed to support the rear portions of the frame-bars 1 of alocomotiveengine and the weight which is carried thereon. The trailing wheels 2 are secured in the usual manner upon the outer ends of the truckaxle 3, the journals t of which rotate in journal-bearings 5, set in axle-boxes 6, which rest on shoes 5 fitting on the tops of the journalbearings, and are provided with oil-cellars 5 which are connected to the boxes below the journal bearings in the ordinary manner. The axle-boxes are fitted with the capacity of both lateral and vertical movement relatively to the frame-bars 1, the construction by which this capacity, as well as the capacity of automatic return of the truck to normal central position, is attained being the following:

The front and rear sides of each of the axleboxes 6 are curved concentrically upon radii struck from a center located at a proper distance forward of the truck-axle in the longi tudinal central plane of the locomotive, as shown in Fig. 5, and the opposite axle-boxes are connected by an upper transverse horizontal plate 8 and transverse vertical front and rear plates 9, which are preferably, as shown, cast integral with the axle-boxes. The plates 9 are set at a sufficient distance apart to permit the axle to rotate between and out of contact with them, and the continuous structure described, comprehending the two axle-boxes and the transverse horizontal and vertical connecting-plates, will be herein termed as a whole the axle-box frame.

A saddle 10. which is a casting of substantially inverted-U form, is fitted over each of the axle-boxes 6, the inner faces of the legs or vertical side members of; the saddles being curved on radii corresponding with the adjacent outer faces of the axle-boxes, so as to admit of lateral movement of the axle-boxes between them. Vertical fianges 11 are formed on the outer faces of the saddles, providing spaces or recesses between said flanges which are of proper dimensions to fit freely on vertical jaw-pieces 12, secured to the pedestal members of said frames. Vertical movement of the saddles and the interposed axle-box frame relatively to the main frame-bars 1 is thereby permitted, while the saddles are prevented from moving laterally by the engagement of the saddle-flanges with the interposed jaw -pieces 12.

The weight carried by the truck is in the instance shown transmitted to the saddles through springs 13, which are connected at their opposite ends to the framebars 1 and to equalizers 14:, respectively, and which bear at their centers on seats in the tops of the saddles. It will, however, be obvious to those familiar with locomotive construction that, if desired, the'equalizers may bear upon the saddles directlythat is to say, without the intermediation of springs.

The saddles 10 are supported on and coupled vertically to the adjacent axle boxes 6 by swing links or hangers 15, which are pivoted at their upper ends to the axle-boxes and at their lower ends to the saddles. The hangers 15 are located and swing within recesses or pockets 16, formed in the curved front and rear sides of the axle-boxes, and each hanger is connected near its upper end to the adjacent axle-box by two pins 17, each having a squared body fitting in a recess in the top of the axlebox and cylindrical ends which project into the pockets 16 and enter longitudinally slotted or extended holes 18 in the hangers. The upper hanger-pins 17 are set at such angles in the axle-boxes that a plane passing centrally between them will intersect the plane of the center of curvature of the faces of the axleboxes and saddles. The lower ends of the hangers are connected to the saddles by pins 19, having squared bodies which fit in the legs of the saddles and are secured therein by setscrews 19 or keys and cylindrical ends which project into the pockets 16 and fit in holes 20, formed in the lower ends of the hangers in planes located centrally between the holes of the upper pins. The common axial line of each of the pairs of lower pins 19 stands at such an angle to the axle-box frame as to intersect the plane of the center of curvature of the faces of the axle-boxes and saddles.

Suflicient clearance is allowed between the tops of the axle-boxes and the adjacent faces of the saddles to admit of the free lateral movement of the axle-box frame in a curve concentric with the faces of the axle-boxes and saddles, such lateralmovment being limited as desired by the clearance between the sides of the pockets 16 and the lower ends of the hangers15. The shoes 5 of the journalbearings are tapered or rounded on their tops in the manner of rockers and are also tapered on their sides from their middle portions to their ends to admit of the automatic adjust ment of the bearing to the journal in both horizontal and vertical directions.

Thimbles or distance-pieces 21 are interposed between the lower ends of the legs of the saddles, and bolts 22 are passed through said thimbles and through lugs in the saddles and secured by nuts 23 in order to brace the legs of the saddles against excessive horizontal strains in service.

In the operation of a radial truck embodying my invention the hangers 15 stand vertically or in normal central position during the periods in which the locomotive is standing or is passing over a tangent of the track. The longitudinal central plane of the truck then coincides with that of the traclr and of the locomotive and each of the hangers bears on its two upper pins, the centers of which are on opposite sides of and at equal distances from a vertical plane passing through the center of the lower hanger-pin. When either of the truck-wheels is acted upon by a force tending to move it and the axle laterally, as

is the case in passing from a tangent to a curve, the upper pins of each hanger will move with the axle-box frame and will carry the upper end of the hanger with them in the direction of movement; but in the movement of the hanger the upper pin, which is in the lead, will take all the load carried by the hanger, as the hole of the adjacent or following upper pin will be raised up by the swing of the hanger on its lower pin, and said following upper pi'n will thereby be relieved of weight. In and by the swinging movement of the hangers the lower hanger-pins, and with them the saddles to which they are connected, will be raised, the center lines of the hangers will be inclined, and the load of each hanger will be carried by one or the other of its upper pins, (depending upon the direction of lateral movement of the truck-wheels and axle,) but will not during such movement or while the truck is standing upon a curve bear coincidently uponboth the upper pins. By reason of the relation of the saddles to the pedestals the lower hanger-pins are free to move vertically, but are restrained from transverse or lateral movement, while the upper hanger-pins, being fixed in the axle-box frame, can move only in a transverse direction or laterally with said frame.

When the force acting laterally on either of the truck-wheels becomes less than the angular pull of the load on the lo'werhangerpins, acting through the then inclined hangers on the leading upper pins, (as is the case in passing from a curve to a tangent,) the axlebox frame, with its axle and wheels, will, through the downward action of the weight sustained by the lower hanger-pins, be automatically returned to normal central position, and the hangers will then again bear upon both their upper pins. It will be seen that such automatic return is due wholly to the combination and coaction of the axle-box frame, saddles, hangers, and connecting-pins and is effected without the necessity of employing centering-springs, inclines, or other devices heretofore relied upon for this purpose.

The horizontal distance between the two upper hanger-pins and the vertical distance between them and the lower hanger-pins may be proportioned, in the discretion of the constructor, so as to cause the returning action of the draft of the load upon the axle-box frame to be exerted to any desired degree.

For use upon roads having comparatively sharp curves or in high-speed locomotives a shorter length of hanger or a greater distance between the upper hanger-pins may be advisable than in the case of easier curves or lower rates of speed.

While my invention is herein set forth as applied in a locomotive-engine trailing truck, it is not limited to such specific application and may without substantial structural modification or difference of operative principle be adapted to practical service as a leading truck in a locomotive-engine or for use in other railroad-vehicles.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a radial truck, the combination of an axle-box frame, an axlejournaled therein, saddles within which the axle-box frame is fitted with the capacity of relative lateral traverse, means for permitting vertical traverse of the saddles relatively to a main frame, and swing links or hangers coupling the axle-box frame to the saddles.

2. In a radial truck, the combination of an axle-box frame, axle-boxes thereon having concentrically-curved front and rear faces, an axle journaled in said axle-boxes, saddles fitting over the axle-boxes and having correspondingly-curved adjacent faces, vertical recesses on the saddles adapted to fit jaws of a main frame, and swing links or hangers coupling the axle-box frame to the saddles.

8. In a radial truck, the combination of an axlebox frame, axle boxes thereon having concentrically -curved front and rear faces, vertical pockets or recesses formed in said faces, an axle journ aled in said axle-boxes, saddles fitting over the axle-boxes and having correspondingly-curved adjacent faces, vertical recesses on the saddles adapted to fit jaws of a main frame, swing links or hangers located in the axle-box pockets, and pivot-pins fixed in the axle-boxes and in the saddles, respectively, and fitting freely in the hangers.

4. In a radial truck, the combination of an axle-box frame, an axle journaled therein, saddles within which the axle-box frame is fitted with the capacity of relative lateral traverse, means for permitting vertical traverse of the saddles relatively to a main frame, swing links or hangers interposed between the axle-box frame and saddles, pins coupling said hangers to the axle-box frame with the capacity of vertical movement relatively thereto, and pins coupling the opposite ends of the hangers to the saddles.

5. In a radial truck, the combination of an axle-box frame, an axle journaled therein, saddles within which the axle-box frame is fitted with the capacity of relative lateral traverse, means for permitting vertical traverse of the 5 saddles relatively to a main frame, swing links or hangers located in pockets or recesses in the axle-box frame which are of such form as to limit their range of movement, pins coupling said hangers to the axle-box frame with the capacity of vertical movement relatively thereto, and pins coupling the opposite ends of the hangers to the saddles.

6. In a radial truck, the combination of an axle-box frame, axle-boxes thereon, journalbearings fitted in said axle-boxes, shoes interposed between the journal-bearings and axleboxes and having curved or rocker-formed top bearing-surfaces and longitudinally curved or inclined lateral surfaces, an axle fitted to rotate in the journal-bearings, saddles within which the axle-box frame is fitted with the capacity of relative lateral traverse, means for permitting vertical traverse of the saddles relatively to a main frame, and swing links or hangers coupling the axle-box frame to the saddles.

7 In a radial truck, the combination of an axle-box frame, an axle journaled therein, saddles within which the axle-box frame is fitted with the capacity of relative lateral traverse, means for permitting vertical traverse of the saddles relatively to a main frame, swing links or hangers interposed between the axle-box frame and saddles, pairs of pivot-pins fixed in the axle-box frame and fitting in elongated or slotted holes in the upper ends of the hangers, and pivot-pins fixed in the saddles and fitting freely in the lower ends of the hangers in planes between the centers of the upper pivot-pin holes.

8. In a radial truck, the combination of an axle-box frame, axle-boxes thereon having concentrically-curved front and rear faces, an axle journaled in said axle-boxes, saddles fit- .ting over the axle-boxes and having correspondingly-curved adjacent faces, vertical recesses on the saddles adapted to fit jaws of a main frame, swing links or hangers interposed between the axle-box frame and saddles, pairs of pivot-pins fixed in the axle-box frame and inclined to the longitudinal central plane thereof substantially parallel to radii from the center of curvature of the axle-box faces, said pins having cylindrical ends fitting in clongated or slotted holes in the upper ends of the hangers, and pivot-pins fixed in the saddles in planes radial from the center of curvature and intermediate those of said pairs of pivot-pins and fitting freely in the lower ends of the hangers.

9. In a radial truck, an axle-box frame comprehending two end axle-boxes having their front and rear faces curved concentrically, and having pockets or recesses for the reception of hangers formed in said curved faces, an upper horizontal plate, and vertical front and.

rear plates, said plates connecting the two axleboxes and being relatively disposed to permit the free rotation of an axle below the horizontal plate and between the vertical plates.

& 788,976

10. In a radial truck, a saddle of inverted- I and a cylindrical pivot-pin hole adjacent to its U form, having a seat in its top member for a opposite end and having its axis in a plane be- T spring" or equalizer and havinglthe innerc'1 facgs tween the two holes first specified. Of its eg members concentrica v curve to t V 5 the faces of a laterally-movable axle-box. REUBEN VVELLS' 11. In a radial truck, a swing link or hanger Witnesses: having two longitudinally-slotted 0r elongated H. SAWYER, holes for pivot-pins adjacent to one of its ends J. E. TURNER. 

